Miley plays down retirement talk ahead of European Championships

Hannah Miley has played down any talk that her return to Glasgow could be a “grand finale” to her career in the pool.

The Scottish swimmer is set to return to the Tollcross pool, where she won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, when the European Championships start in Glasgow.

Miley, now 28, was narrowly pipped to a first Olympic medal in Rio two years ago, while she missed out on a gold at the Commonwealths on the Gold Coast, the first time she failed to claim top spot at the event since 2006.

She admits that she is at the age where talk of her future in the sport is going to happen but insists she has not contemplated waving an emotional goodbye in front of a home crowd next week.

“No, definitely not,” she said yesterday. “I would know if it was going to be a ‘grand finale’, but I don’t want any competition to feel like a grand finale.

“I think that adds an expectation or pressure, and I wouldn’t want to finish my career like that.

“For me, not knowing when I am going to finish is how I would like it to stay. Whether I finish after this or not, I don’t know.”

She added: “It’s a bit frustrating to have people ask if it is going to be a swansong, I guess my age and where I am at in my career (means) people are questioning it which is fair enough.

“But I will not be dictated to by other people.”

Miley’s hopes of success in Glasgow have been boosted after reigning European, Olympic and World champion Katinka Hosszu pulled out of the 400 metres individual medley to concentrate on other events.

The Scot said: “There are some youngsters coming through that I will have to keep my eye on, but it’s anybody’s race and you have to be on it on the day.”

Hannah Miley is targeting gold.